Juan Carlos Ferrero was on a 14-game winning streak before last night's final in Acapulco. The Spaniard attempted to go for his third-consecutive title. The current world no. 16 had to first get past David Ferrer, his compatriot, friend and business partner.

This final was rematch of their championship matchup in Buenos Aires, which the 30 year old got the best of his friend that time. This time, Ferrer outlasted Ferrero 6-3 3-6 6-1. The title is Ferrer’s eighth-career title.

Both players will unite to take on Switzerland in Davis Cup next week. Spain will go for their third-consecutive title.

(Images: Mexport)

David Ferrer and Juan Carlos Ferrero faced off in the final of the Copa Telmex. The two Spaniards slugged it out in a 2-hour-and-32-minute match. Ferrero had to rally but eventually outlasted his friend and business partner 5-7 6-4 6-3. To be fair, Ferrer played a lot of tennis over the last two days and had to pull out of doubles yesterday due to fatigue.

Ferrero is now the new Tommy Robredo. Last year, Robredo won the Brazilian and Argentinian legs of the Latin American swing, and now another Spaniard does the same this year. The former world no. 1 has won two titles in a row. The new championship brings his career-titles total to 14.

Almost a year ago, the 30 year old had not won a title in 5 ½ years after struggling for a long time with injuries. In the meantime, the former French Open champion has now won three titles. It is amazing what happens when he is not injured for extended periods of time. This week’s title should move Ferrero inside the top 20 next week.

Ferrero and Ferrer complete the LA swing in Mexico next week. We shall see if Ferrero can pry the title out of Nicolas Almagro’s hands and win his third-straight title.

Championship Sunday
Singles Final
2 Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) def. 1 David Ferrer (ESP) 5-7 6-4 6-3

Doubles Final
4 S. Prieto (ARG)/H. Zeballos (ARG) def. S. Greul (GER)/P. Luczak (AUS) 7-6(4) 6-3

Saturday’s Matches
Singles Quarterfinals
1 David Ferrer (ESP) def. 6 Igor Andreev (RUS) 7-5 6-2
4 Juan Monaco (ARG) def. 8 Horacio Zeballos (ARG) 7-5 6-1

Singles Semifinals
1 David Ferrer (ESP) def. Albert Montanes 6-1 6-1
2 Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) def. 4 Juan Monaco (ARG) 6-2 7-6(7)

Doubles Quarterfinals
4 S. Prieto (ARG)/H. Zeballos (ARG) def. WC L. Arnold Ker (ARG)/B. Dabul (ARG) 2-6 6-4 10-6

Doubles Semifinals
4 S. Prieto (ARG)/H. Zeballos (ARG) def. N. Almagro (ESP)/S. Ventura (ESP) 6-1 7-6(5)
S. Greul (GER)/P. Luczak (AUS) def. D. Ferrer (ESP)/R. Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) – Walkover (Ferrer – fatigue)

(Image: Copa Telmex)

Intense rain cancelled play in Buenos Aires. The rain came during Juan Monaco’s match with Horacio Zeballos. The two players were even at 1-1 15-15.

Before the delay Juan Carlos Ferrero was able to secure his spot in the semifinals after he got into trouble with qualifier Santiago Ventura. He outlasted his compatriot 6-3 3-6 6-2.

Between singles and doubles tomorrow, David Ferrer could have to play three times, and Horacio Zeballos could have to play four times. Things could be hairy for those two tomorrow.

Friday’s Results
Singles Quarterfinals
1 David Ferrer (ESP) vs. 6 Igor Andreev (RUS) (postponed)
2 Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) def. Q Santiago Ventura (ESP) 6-3 3-6 6-2
8 Horacio Zeballos (ARG) vs. 4 Juan Monaco (ARG) 1-1 (postponed)

Doubles Quarterfinals
WC L. Arnold Ker (ARG)/B. Dabul (ARG) vs. 4 S. Prieto (ARG)/H. Zeballos (ARG) (postponed)

Saturday’s Order of Play

(Image: Daniel Garcia/AFP/Getty Images)

Top-seed David Ferrer cruised into the quarterfinals after pushing aside Frederico Gil. He beat the Portuguese 6-3 6-0 in under an hour. The Spaniard will head to meet sixth-seed Igor Andreev. The Russian leads their career matchup 4-3, but Ferrer has won their last two meetings. However, Andreev has won both of their meetings on clay if that makes any difference.

Albert Montanes will await the winner of the Ferrer and Andreev match tomorrow, as David Nalbandian withdrew from the competition with an abductor injury. The withdrawal is a set back for the Argentine champion who returned to the tour this week after recovering nine months from hip surgery.

On the other side of the draw, fourth-seed Juan Monaco took care of his compatriot Juan Ignacio Chela in the battle of the Juans. He outlasted Chela 7-6(2) 4-6 6-2 after 2 hours and 46 minutes of play. Monaco will play another Argentine, Horacio Zeballos in the quarterfinals.

Monaco is on a collision course with Juan Carlos Ferrero. The two could meet on Saturday in the semifinals.

Thursday’s Results
Singles Second Round
1 David Ferrer (ESP) def. Frederico Gil (POR) 6-3 6-0
4 Juan Monaco (ARG) def. Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) 7-6(2) 4-6 6-2
6 Igor Andreev (RUS) def. Marcel Granollers (ESP) 3-6 6-3 6-4
8 Horacio Zeballos (ARG) def. WC Carlos Moya (ESP) 6-4 6-4

Singles Quarterfinals
5 Albert Montanes (ESP) def. David Nalbandian (ARG) walkover (right abductor)

Doubles Quarterfinals
S. Greul (GER)/P. Luczak (AUS) def. 1 P. Cuevas (URU)/M. Granollers (ESP) 6-3 6-4
D. Ferrer (ESP)/R. Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) def. I. Andreev (RUS)/D. Gimeno-Traver (ESP) 6-2 7-5
N. Almagro (ESP)/S. Ventura (ESP) def. D. Koellerer (AUT)/O. Marach (AUT) 5-7 6-1 10-7

Friday’s Order of Play

(Images: Copa Telmex)

Last week’s champion in Brazil, Juan Carlos Ferrero had a routine win over Marcos Daniel. He bested the Brazilian 6-2 6-4 after 75 minutes of play in the second-round match. The former world no. one will meet qualifier Santiago Ventura, who upset seventh-seed Victor Hanescu today, in the quarterfinals.

The Spaniard is on course to meet either Carlos Moya or most likely Juan Monaco in the semifinals. Should Ferrero end up meeting Moya, it would be a battle of the former French Open champions and former world no.1s. It would be like the good ole days.

Preview:
City: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Surface: Outdoor Clay
Championship Points: 250
2009 Singles Champion: Tommy Robredo
2009 Doubles Champion: Marcel Granollers and Alberto Martin
Draws: Singles | Doubles

Wednesday’s Results
Singles Second Round
2 Juan Ferrero (ESP) def. Marcos Daniel (BRA) 6-2 6-4
5 Albert Montanes (ESP) def. Q Pablo Andujar (ESP) 6-3 6-2
Q Santiago Ventura (ESP) def. 7 Victor Hanescu (ROU) 6-4 7-6(10)
David Nalbandian (ARG) def. Daniel Gimeno-Traver (ESP) 6-7(5) 6-4 7-6(7)

Doubles First Round
1. P. Cuevas (URU)/M. Granollers (ESP) def. R. Gasquet (FRA)/M. Vassallo Arguello (ARG) 5-7 6-4 10-4
D. Koellerer (AUT)/O. Marach (AUT) def. 2 A. Sa (BRA)/H. Tecau (ROU) 6-1 6-4
D. Ferrer (ESP)/R. Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) def. 3 L. Friedl (CZE)/D. Skoch (CZE) 5-7 6-2 10-6
S. Greul (GER)/P. Luczak (AUS) def. F. Gil (POR)/E. Schwank (ARG) 6-4 6-1
N. Almagro (ESP)/S. Ventura (ESP) def. F. Fognini (ITA)/P. Starace (ITA) 5-7 6-2 10-3

Thursday’s Order of Play

(Image: Copa Telmex)

Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero won his second-career title in two years last Sunday in Brazil. The Brazilian title brings his career total to lucky thirteen. It’s amazing what happens when he is not constantly injured.

His compatriot, Fernando Verdasco won the San Jose title on the same day. It is his first title of the year and fourth-career title. Let’s hope this is the beginning of a winning streak for the world no. 11.

Other winners:

ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament
Singles Final
3WC Robin Soderling (SWE) def. 6 Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) 6-4 2-0 RET. (right hamstring)

Doubles Final
1 D. Nestor/N. Zimonjic def. Aspelin/ Hanley 6-4 4-6 10-7

Brasil Open
Singles Final

1 Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) def. Lukasz Kubot (POL) 6-1 6-0



Doubles Final

2 P. Cuevas/M. Granollers def. 1 L. Kubot/O. Marach 7-5 6-4

SAP Open
Singles Final

2 Fernando Verdasco (ESP) def. 1 Andy Roddick (USA) 3-6 6-4 6-4



Doubles Final

M. Fish/S. Querrey def. B. Becker/L. Mayer 7-6(3) 7-5

(Images: Koch Tavares/ Brasil Open 2010, SAP Open)

Top-seed Juan Carlos Ferrero had a routine win over Eduardo Schwank 7-6(4) 6-3 after 126 minutes of play. The Spaniard will meet Chilean Nicolas Massu in the second round. The world no. 22 leads their head-to-head 6-2.

In a battle of Brazilians, third-seed Thomaz Bellucci emerged victorious over Thiago Alves. He was able to advance with a 6-2 7-5 victory to the second round. The 22 year old will next play Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver, who he has never played before.

Should there be no upsets in the next two rounds, Ferrero and Bellucci could meet in the semifinals.

Tuesday's Results
Singles First Round
1 Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) def. Eduardo Schwank (ARG) 7-6(4) 6-3
3 Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) def. WC Thiago Alves (BRA) 6-2 7-5
4 Igor Andreev (RUS) def. Potito Starace (ITA) 6-2 6-2
5 Victor Hanescu (ROU) def. Joao Souza (BRA) 7-5 7-6(2)
6 Pablo Cuevas (URU) def. Q Filippo Volandri (ITA) 6-4 6-3
Marcel Granollers (ESP) def. 7 Horacio Zeballos (ARG) 7-5 3-0 RET.
Lukasz Kubot (POL) vs. Oscar Hernandez (ESP) 7-5 7-6(2)
Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) def. Peter Luczak (AUS) 6-7(4) 6-3 6-4
Fabio Fognini (ITA) def. Martin Vassallo Arguello (ARG) 6-4 6-0
Q Rui Machado (POR) def. Marcos Daniel (BRA) 6-3 7-6(3)
Nicolas Massu (CHI) def. Q Rogerio Dutra Da Silva (BRA) 6-4 3-6 6-4
Frederico Gil (POR) def. LL Pablo Andujar (ESP) 7-6(9) 6-2
WC Ricardo Hocevar (BRA) def. Q Carlos Berlocq (ARG) 7-5 6-3

Doubles First Round
J. Chela (ARG)/S. Ventura (ESP) def. 4 A. Sa (BRA)/H. Tecau (ROU) 7-5 6-1
S. Greul (GER)/P. Luczak (AUS) def. WC F. Ferreiro (BRA)/R. Mello (BRA) 7-5 2-6 11-9

Wednesday's Order of Play

(Images: Koch Tavares/Brasil Open 2010)

On Monday, over 100 of Juan Carlos Ferrero’s friends and family surprised him with a surprise party for his 30th birthday in Valencia. His birthday is really on February 12, but the Spaniard will be playing in Brazil next week.

His friends and family gave the world no. 22 a white Volkswagen Scirocco as a communal gift. Not bad for the not quite 30-year-old. I guess we all need to find some better friends.

(Image: JCF)

On Monday, Ivo “Dr. Ivo or MC Ivo” Karlovic took out 13-seed Radek Stepanek. The Czech became the first casualty of the Australian Open. The opening day was a rather harmless when compared to day two of the tournament.


Tuesday was a fragile day for seeded players. Twenty-third-seed Juan Carlos Ferrero and 25-seed Sam Querrey lost their Aussie debuts. A big stunner was 16-seed Tommy Robredo’s exit. The Spaniard is usually so consistent. Perhaps the biggest stunner of them all was eighth-seed Robin Soderling.

Columbian Santiago Giraldo (pic. left) took out Tommy Robredo. The world no. 114 did not qualify at last year’s US Open, but he was able to surpass handily the Spaniard on 6-4 6-2 6-2. Giraldo now advances Pole Lukaz Kubot in second round.

Robin Soderling lost to world no. 113 Marcel Granollers (pic. right) of Spain. The Spaniard rallied to eventually kneecap Soderling 5-7 2-6 6-4 6-4 6-2. The 23 year old will meet Columbian Alejandro Fallo in the next round.

Soderling’s departure now opens his quarter of the draw and gives Spaniard Nicolas Almagro a good shot at the round of 16. The 26 seed has never made it to the round of 16 in a grand slam on hardcourt. He did make it to the quarterfinals at Roland Garros in 2008, which is his best grand slam result to date.

Tuesday’s Results

Wednesday’s Order of Play

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(Images: AP/Andrew Brownbill, AP/Shuji Kajiyama)

Though the season is already a couple of weeks in, I decided to take some extra time this year, as I overdosed on tennis last year. With some rest, I am back to overindulging on tennis this year. Last year started out great but then when to the dogs. It was hard to see Rafael Nadal go from winning the Australian Open to not being able to defend his title at Wimbledon in just four-short months later due to an extreme case of tendinitis.

Other low points last year include:

• Travis Parrott and Filip Polasek broke up
• Richard Gasquet’s suspension
• Andre Agassi’s biography. Some of the revelations revealed the subsequent ridiculousness of Gasquet’s predicament
• The tricolor charge did not live up to expectation. Let’s hope this year will be better
  

The year did improve with some things:

• Juan Martin del Potro won the US Open
• Spain repeated its Davis Cup championship
• Novak Djokovic finally got his act together and is back to living up to his potential
• Nikolay Davydenko’s rise again as force to be reckoned with
• Gasquet cleared up his troubles and can now focus on tennis
• Juan Carlos Ferrero and David Ferrer turned out the Valencia Open. It went from to some tiny tournament to a definite must-go-to stop on the tour. See for yourselves:
  

Juan Carlos Ferrero gives the gas face in his 6-4 6-2 loss to Marcos Baghdatis.

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Colombian up-and-comer Santiago Giraldo won the Natomas challenger title last week. The 21 year old won his third challenger title this year and six for his career. Let's hope he makes a speedy transition to the pros (Sacramento Bee)

Nadal warns of tour overload and thinks the season is too long. After all the nine retirements in Shanghai this week, you would think the ATP might want to be proactive about the situation (Guardian)

Roddick chimed in about the season (BBC Sport)

Novak Djokovic takes both sides into account (The Independent)

Marat Safin adds that he was talking about the season length five years ago. The Russian took time to slam Roddick for his newfound position on the matter, and then takes a swipe at Berdych too. Boy, I am going to miss him (The Globe and Mail)

Maybe they should get rid of the Race (The Globe and Mail)

Andy Roddick will be out with a knee injury for three weeks (NYT)

Czech Ivo Minar is banned for eight months in a doping ban (Fox Sports)

Safin feels the love in Shanghai (Open Court)

The many sides of Djokovic (ESPN)

The case for Juan Carlos Ferrero to play against the Czech Republic for the Spanish Davis Cup Team (Times Online)

Juan Martin del Potro wants to build on his success (CBS)

Novak Djokovic almost played for Great Britain (Times Online)

You wouldn’t know if from tennis common "wisdom" in the States, but Nadal is actually the most popular player worldwide on tour. They pretend it is Roger Federer (CCTV)

(Image: Denise/tennisfiend)

Spanish Davis Cup captain Alberto Costa has his work cut out for him. He has too many possibilities and not enough spots. The Spanish captain has the luxury to choose from Rafael Nadal, Fernando Verdasco, David Ferrer, Tommy Robredo, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Feliciano Lopez for five spots. With the exception of Lopez, all of six of his choices are in the top 21. I am sure the other captains could only wish for such a problem. In the semifinals, he had an easier time choosing because Fernando Verdasco and Rafael Nadal were injured, and he could just activate Juan Carlos Ferrero. Ferrero has been solid and now is 2-0 in Davis Cup action.

The Spaniards will meet the Czech Republic in the finals. To my chagrine, this team has taken out some of my teams this year. Unlike the Spaniards, the team does not have a deep bench and really consists of Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych. To get to three wins, they each play singles and doubles.

This one-two punch has sent the French, the Argentines and the Croats packing on their road to the finals. The Czech duo are 6-2 in singles and 3-0 in doubles in Davis Cup this year. They also can both play on clay. Berdych is no slouch and has won three titles on clay. In the semifinals, the Czechs had no trouble dismissing the Croats 4-1 on clay.

Most people think final match up will be a foregone conclusion for Spain, but I do not think it is going to be that easy for the Spanish with or without Rafael Nadal. If Nadal does not play, I do not think Spain will win.

Today, we had a preview of a possible Davis Cup singles match up. Radek Stapanek and Juan Carlos Ferrero went at it today in Shanghai. Stepanek made an easy work of Ferrero. He beat the Spaniard, who has played well of late, 6-3 6-0 in under an hour of play. This result looks like it could be a foreshadowing of things to come. I think I am need to sign off and take some Tums now.

(Images: Eugene Hoshiko/AP)

Spain and the Czech Republic both wrapped up their Davis Cup ties today. Both team won their doubles rubbers today and advanced to the finals in December.

The Czech two-man wrecking crew of Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek made easy work of Marin Cilic and Lovro Zovko 6-1 6-3 6-4 today after 2 hours and 16 minutes. It was an easy day for the pair after the two players played almost ten hours in their singles rubbers yesterday.

Their December rivals, Spain surprisingly wrapped up their tie today. Tommy Robredo and Feliciano Lopez had to overcome the Israeli doubles team of Andy Ram and Jonathan Ehrlich.

The Spaniards were able to hold serve in the first set and sneak off with it in the tiebreak. The Israelis then rallied to take the second set. It was at this time that professional asshat, Justin Gimmelstob decided he would pile on the Spanish team by over-emphasizing the Spaniards' volleying weaknesses.

Every player possesses weakness in his game, and that is frankly the beauty of tennis. There are also reasons why players end up doubles specialists in the first place. The Israelis' weaknesses just so happened to be the Spaniards’ strengths, which were their serves and groundstrokes.

It was in the third set that the Spanish team exposed the Israelis shortcomings. The Spaniards upped their serves and drew their opponents into groundstroke shootouts. It was at this point that Robredo and his forehand started playing target practice, and Lopez did a great job of picking off balls at the net.

After the Spaniards won four-straight games, the asshat extraordinaire became quiet for the rest of the match. The Israelis rallied back into the third set, despite Ehrlich having to call for the trainer to treat his elbow. At 4-5, the Spaniards were able to close out the third set. In the fourth set, the wheels came off the Israeli team, and the Spaniards were able to close out the set, the match and the tie 7-6(6) 6-7(7) 6-4 6-2 after 3 hours and 47 minutes of play.

The Spaniards are heavily favored to successfully defend their title, but they take the Czech team for granted at their own peril. The Czech team has let Berdych and Stepanek carry the entire load to the final. They had no problems taking out talented and deep teams -- just ask the French. If Rafael Nadal is able to play, Spain has a great chance to repeat. But if he is not around, the Czech double-trouble team could do a lot of damage.

Video highlights of the Spanish match en espanol below:



(Images: Darko Bandic/AP, Manu Fernandez/AP)

Dudi Sela came out playing pretty aggressive, and it looked like the newly world no. 29 would give Juan Carlos Ferrero some trouble. Ferrero was solid and steady but more importantly, patient. The two players really pounded it out for the first twelve games. After long rallies in the beginning of the match, Ferrero eventually wore down Sela.

Sela fought off seven break points in his first service game of the match. After eight break points, Ferrero finally broke him in the seventh game of 4-3. From there, the Spaniard held on for the first set. Sela dug in at the beginning of the second set. The turning point of the match was when Ferrero was able to break back in game four of the second set for 2-2. The former world no. 1 raced off to win ten-consecutive games in a row and take the match 6-4 6-2 6-0.

Spain is now 2-0 over Israel. The Israelis have a good shot at taking doubles tomorrow with Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram. It looks good for Spain right now, but anything can happen.

(Image: AFP)

Juan Martin del Potro puts Tandil on the map (NYT)

Jeremy Chardy replaces Gilles Simon for Davis Cup (ESPN)

Juan Carlos Ferrero will replace Rafael Nadal for Spain’s Davis Cup semifinal (Fox Sports)

Nadal's pull out gives Israelis hope (Jerusalem Post)

Rafael Nadal admits 2009 year has been unlucky. I suspect a certain someone possesses a voodoo doll (Live Tennis)

2009 and Nadal’s injuries (USA Today)

Dmitry Tursunov will have ankle surgery. He could miss four to six months (Sacramento Bee)

Tennis is becoming more brutal (NYT)

Goran Ivanisevic will play Andrei Pavel in his last match (Croatian Times)

Rafael Nadal



















Juan Carlos Ferrero

























Gilles Simon


















David Ferrer

















Nicolas Kiefer



















Marat Safin


















Juan Monaco



















Viktor Troiki















Nicolas Lapentti


















Evgeny Korolev
















Frank Dancevic











There are some tennis polls some readers have pointed out and felt outrage at some the choices in these polls. I have received recent requests from readers over the week to do a proper topless poll. In light of the recent weather developments at the Open, I thought I would give you a treat.

I have gone to through the tennisfiend photo archives to compile a list for my fellow tennis fiends. By no means is it a comprehensive list, as I do not have photos of everyone. This poll will also be a tribute to the many of the fallen and the few who remain in the tournament that is steadily coming to a close this week despite the weather.

So, please participate in a proper poll of the ATP’s finest. Since this is a scientific poll and it may be hard for you to choose just one, we are going to do this one Chicago style -- so vote early and vote often.

Update: The formatting in IE is messed up. If viewing this post in IE , the pictured are as follows from the top to the bottom: Rafael Nadal, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Gilles, David Ferrer, Nicolas Kiefer, Marat Safin, Juan Monaco, Viktor Troiki, Nicolas Lapentti, Evgeny Korolev and Frank Dancevic.

(Images: Denise/tennisfiend)

Juan Carlos Ferrero and Gilles Simon are my two favorite players because they are both even-tempered baseliners, who play people off the court, and possess nice sets of wheels. Ferrero probably is more even-keeled than Simon because the Frenchman has a propensity, at times, to have spirited conversations with himself when things are not going well on the court.

The match looked like it would be a grinder of a match with lots of long rallies. Each player took a set and all was even in the third set until Simon called for the trainer. The Frenchman has suffered from tendinitis since the French Open, so it became a problem during this match. After the injury timeout, Ferrero was able to take the third set. Simon retired after the first game in the fourth set to give the Spaniard the victory 1-6 6-4 7-6(5) 1-0.

Ferrero advances to play the winner of the del Potro-Koellerer match later on today. His fourth-round showing ties his second-best result at the tournament in 2000. His best result was of course his 2003 final with Andy Roddick. Should his opponent be del Potro, Ferrero will have his hands full.

(Images: Denise/tennisfiend)

Fernando Verdasco and Juan Carlos Ferrero lost their round-of-16 bids yesterday, which now leaves Rafael Nadal the last Spaniard standing in Montreal. Ferrero lost to Andy Murray 3-6 1-6. In a valiant effort, Verdasco lost a close match to Andy Roddick 6-7(2) 6-4 6-7(5).

(Images: Denise/tennisfiend)

Tommy Haas was able to surpass Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-5 2-6 6-1. Both players have been playing well of late, and unfortunately someone had to win today. Now, Haas will play Fernando Gonzalez in the quarterfinals. Gonzalez is 2-1 over the German, though Haas won their last meeting at Indian Wells two years ago.

This should be a good match if you can catch it.

(Image: AP)